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With the WRU having restructured the top two divisions by reducing the number of teams
in the top division (now called the Premier Division) from 12 to 8 teams, and increasing
the number of teams in the second division (now called Division One) from 12 to 16 teams,
Aberavon had to play in Division One in 1997-98 even though they had won the right to play
in the Premiership by winning the Division Two Title in 1996-97.
This 9 month long season had two parts to it as far as the Wizards were concerned.
Although the Wizards played second fiddle to Caerphilly for almost all the season, from
August to the end of February Aberavon (with their game winning pack) were on course to
win the Division and the single promotion spot into the Premiership. However, the Swalec
Cup match away to Swansea proved a turning point in Aberavon's season. A demoralising loss
combined with the Wizards picking up several crucial injuries resulted in their promotion
bid almost folding over night. March through to the end of the season in May proved a
struggle for the Wizards and they almost lost out on runners-up spot to Treorchy. Although
Caerphilly won the only promotion spot to the Premier Division, Aberavon found themselves
promoted with four days to go before the kick off of the 1998-1999 Season when Cardiff and
Swansea rebelled against the WRU by not entering the League competition.
Welsh National League Division One
| Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
PF |
PA |
Tries |
Bonus Pts |
Points |
| 1 |
Caerphilly |
30 |
27 |
0 |
3 |
1090 |
501 |
137 |
18 |
99 |
| 2 |
Aberavon |
30 |
20 |
2 |
8 |
738 |
530 |
104 |
12 |
74 |
| 3 |
Treorchy |
30 |
19 |
0 |
11 |
840 |
566 |
115 |
16 |
73 |
| 4 |
Bonymaen |
30 |
17 |
0 |
13 |
656 |
503 |
86 |
9 |
60 |
| 5 |
Dunvant |
30 |
17 |
1 |
12 |
723 |
721 |
87 |
6 |
58 |
| 6 |
Merthyr |
30 |
14 |
4 |
12 |
639 |
592 |
90 |
8 |
54 |
| 7 |
Llandovery |
30 |
14 |
0 |
16 |
690 |
648 |
88 |
12 |
54 |
| 8 |
Rumney |
30 |
15 |
1 |
14 |
710 |
755 |
94 |
7 |
53 |
| 9 |
Abertillery |
30 |
15 |
1 |
14 |
559 |
601 |
66 |
4 |
50 |
| 10 |
Newbridge |
30 |
14 |
0 |
16 |
554 |
576 |
61 |
8 |
50 |
| 11 |
Cross Keys |
30 |
14 |
1 |
15 |
674 |
700 |
79 |
6 |
49 |
| 12 |
S. W. Police |
30 |
10 |
1 |
19 |
665 |
707 |
93 |
11 |
42 |
| 13 |
Blackwood |
30 |
12 |
0 |
18 |
546 |
770 |
72 |
4 |
40 |
| 14 |
Pontypool |
30 |
11 |
1 |
18 |
604 |
856 |
73 |
4 |
38 |
| 15 |
U. W. I. C. |
30 |
8 |
0 |
22 |
655 |
858 |
87 |
11 |
35 |
| 16 |
Maesteg |
30 |
7 |
0 |
23 |
531 |
990 |
59 |
2 |
23 |
Club Awards
- Richard Morris (Player of the Year)
- Chris Lewis (Most Promising Player of the Year)
- Richard Diplock (Clubman of the Year)
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